Geography and Cartography (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Lakeland Community College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$41,295

Est. from national median (14 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$21,644

Est. from national median (11 programs)

Analysis

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52 suggests this certificate could pay for itself within a reasonable timeframe, though there's an important caveat: both the $41,295 salary figure and $21,644 debt load come from national peer programs, not Lakeland's actual graduates. With only 14 similar programs nationwide providing earnings data, this is a niche credential where outcomes can vary significantly depending on local job markets and how well the coursework aligns with employer needs in geographic information systems, mapping technology, or related fields.

The estimated earnings put graduates roughly in line with what similar certificate programs produce nationally, but they're modest for someone carrying over $21,000 in debt. Whether this investment makes sense depends heavily on what your child plans to do next—GIS certificates can serve as valuable add-ons for careers in urban planning, environmental consulting, or local government, but they may struggle to stand alone as a terminal credential. The 22% Pell grant rate at Lakeland suggests many students come from modest financial backgrounds, making that debt figure something to watch carefully.

Before committing, get specific about job placement: Does Lakeland have relationships with employers who hire GIS technicians? Can they provide actual graduate outcomes rather than national estimates? The math could work if this certificate opens doors to steady employment in Northeast Ohio's public sector or environmental firms, but it's a specialized enough field that you'll want concrete evidence this particular program delivers.

Where Lakeland Community College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all geography and cartography certificate's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Geography and Cartography certificate's programs at top institutions nationally

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Lakeland Community CollegeKirtland	$3,872	$41,295*	—	$21,644*	—
Minnesota State University-MankatoMankato	$9,490	$50,411*	—	—*	—
DePaul UniversityChicago	$44,460	$47,464*	—	$23,412*	0.49
Texas State UniversitySan Marcos	$11,450	$44,270*	—	$25,385*	0.57
Florida Atlantic UniversityBoca Raton	$4,879	$42,833*	—	$19,692*	0.46
University of Wisconsin-WhitewaterWhitewater	$8,250	$42,580*	—	—*	—
National Median	—	$41,294*	—	$22,197*	0.54

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with geography and cartography graduates

Geographers

Study the nature and use of areas of the Earth's surface, relating and interpreting interactions of physical and cultural phenomena. Conduct research on physical aspects of a region, including land forms, climates, soils, plants, and animals, and conduct research on the spatial implications of human activities within a given area, including social characteristics, economic activities, and political organization, as well as researching interdependence between regions at scales ranging from local to global.

$97,200/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Geography Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in geography. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Cartographers and Photogrammetrists

Research, study, and prepare maps and other spatial data in digital or graphic form for one or more purposes, such as legal, social, political, educational, and design purposes. May work with Geographic Information Systems (GIS). May design and evaluate algorithms, data structures, and user interfaces for GIS and mapping systems. May collect, analyze, and interpret geographic information provided by geodetic surveys, aerial photographs, and satellite data.

$78,380/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Surveying and Mapping Technicians

Perform surveying and mapping duties, usually under the direction of an engineer, surveyor, cartographer, or photogrammetrist, to obtain data used for construction, mapmaking, boundary location, mining, or other purposes. May calculate mapmaking information and create maps from source data, such as surveying notes, aerial photography, satellite data, or other maps to show topographical features, political boundaries, and other features. May verify accuracy and completeness of maps.

$51,940/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Managers, All Other

All managers not listed separately.

Regulatory Affairs Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate production activities of an organization to ensure compliance with regulations and standard operating procedures.

Compliance Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization to ensure compliance with ethical or regulatory standards.

Wind Energy Operations Managers

Manage wind field operations, including personnel, maintenance activities, financial activities, and planning.

Wind Energy Development Managers

Lead or manage the development and evaluation of potential wind energy business opportunities, including environmental studies, permitting, and proposals. May also manage construction of projects.

Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers

Plan and direct cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated properties for reuse. Does not include properties sufficiently contaminated to qualify as Superfund sites.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Lakeland Community College, approximately 22% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 14 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.